Why do pit bulls or rottweilers kill?

Answer 1

In Canine homicides it has been pointed out that the dog bite epidemic as a whole involves all dogs and all dog owners, not just the breeds most likely to kill. Bad owners and people who don't really know what they're talking about like news reporters, give some breeds a bad reputation.

Bad owners is the main cause why these dogs kill.

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In short - the first person to answer this was pretty much correct - pit bulls and rottweilers kill more because of their owners than because of their breed. Because they have been bred to have the physical characteristics that help them be good guard dogs (rottweilers) and fighting dogs (pit bulls) they are more frequently trained to be aggressive and attack than many other breeds. If they are not trained that way, they are not actually that likely to kill anyone. If they do attack, however, they are some of the breeds most physically adept at inflicting significant damage. A study was compiled by the Journal of American Veterinary Medicine in September 2000 (20 year study .. 1979 - 1998.) Pit Bull 'type' dogs and Rottweilers were involved in one half of approximately 300 dog bites in the U.S. Yet another study of American and Canadian dog bite fatalities from 1982 - 2006 revealed the same results and that Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Presa Canarios and their mixes were responsible for 65% of fatal attacks. It was highly noted that Pit Bulls were high on the list for attacking adults as frequently as they attacked children. The brunt of the responsibility of the Pit Bull breeds should go towards the breeder (who should know better) and, also the owner who should know the history of the Pit Bull.

Properly trained, Pit Bulls are good pets and not prone to attack anyone. If improperly trained or neglected though, they will become aggressive and if they attack it isn't pretty because they are quick, strong, and great leapers.

The same is also somewhat true for Rotweilers but in their case, they are not normally aggressive except when defending their home and family - they tend to be quite placid and friendly around those they know (although they sometimes don't realize their own strength and can knock down a person when playing around - personal experience there). The American Kennel club describes its temperament as "...self-confident and responds quietly and with a wait-and-see attitude to influences in its environment". If they commit to attack (usually in a case of perceived threat to their home or family by a stranger) they are fearless, relentless, and very strong - inflicting much more damage than the average dog, consequently being responsible for more fatal attacks.

It's also likely that because when pit bulls and rottweilers DO attack they inflict more damage than the average dog that more of their bites get reported. Let's face it, if a chihuahua nips you, you are not as likely to report it as if a rottweiler takes a pound of flesh from your leg, so the reports of dog bites are slightly skewed by that factor.

Pit Bull and Rottweiler attacks are also more likely to be reported because of their reputation as "scary dogs". When the dog is a mixed breed or the breed is unknown, it is more likely to be assumed to be one of these two - which also inflates the statistics on dog bites but less so for dog-bite related fatalities since those get more thoroughly investigated and the exact breed more accurately documented.

Answer 2

They are a victim, of being smarter than some of their owners, thus being misunderstood, abandon, and picked up. Most folks are afraid of a pit they did not raise, and afraid to take a chance. They are also being way over bred, because when they are little, they are adorable, and attrack an owner that is not aware that a dog is a 10, to 15 year commitment. The mystique that has come over the dogs, brought on by bad owners, by the way, has kept them out of more responsible homes. Most people want a pet, that is fun, when they want it to be, and easily controlled. Pits are those things, however, they require a little more "input" to achieve this. They are very sensative, and inteligent, and want back, what they give. Most people want loyalty from a dog, but, do not want to give it. With pits, you have to give, to get........Chuck.

Answer 3

Pitt bulls were bred to kill and hurt things, such as animals or little things. It is there instinct to kill, which is why they do. But also, not all Pitt bulls are evil, some are very sweet.